For my family, spring signals the beginning of little league baseball and a renewed level of busyness that makes staying on top of nutrition a bit of a challenge. Recently, I've been using berries, another spring/summer favorite, in smoothies to keep my kids fueled up. Using a simple blender, I can whip up a tasty treat in minutes that includes many fruits and vegetables that my kids wouldn't normally eat.

Berries are sweet, but also contain a boost of disease-fighting antioxidants, fiber and vitamins. It's fun to hear my kids ask for seconds, especially when I know the smoothies we make are also loaded with spinach, kale, or chia or flax seeds to add fiber, protein and healthy omega fats. I make it a goal to get at least three servings of fruits and vegetables in each smoothie I make.

When I see a deal on berries, I buy double what I need and put half in the freezer. Then I can just pull out what I need, whenever I need it. Clean up is easy, too: Simply pop the blender parts into your dishwasher or hand wash with hot, soapy water.